20 December 2013

A very happy Christmas from all the staff at the school. This has been a really special time for us as all year groups have centred their thoughts on the miracle of God coming to Earth for us.

The infants celebrated this at our carols around the tree. Each class presented a different part of the story and dramatised it in their own special way. A good number of parents joined us and we enjoyed singing some traditional carols.

The juniors carol service was at Holy Trinity Church. We attempted to give evidence for the question posed by John Betjeman:

And it is true…
The maker of the stars and sea
Become a child on earth for me

The children in year three invited us all to be a part of Christmas ourselves when six of them sang:

Oh holy child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings bring
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel

I do hope this will a great time for you and your family. Thank you so much for all your encouragement and friendship this year. It has been amazing to feel the love during this testing time. Early next term we will be giving very good news about our end of key stage two results. Thank you also for all the cards and presents - it is so kind and appreciated greatly.

With best wishes, Richard

Events for week beginning Monday, 6 January
Monday 6 January – Term begins at 8.40am
Sex Education Talk for parents of Year 6 children – Thursday, 9 January at 2.30pm (Hall)
ParentPay
We're close to going live with ParentPay - the online school payment service. From January 2014, we will be piloting the system at Holy Trinity for lunch payments only. All parents will be sent ParentPay activation letters with logon details for you to set up as a parent user. There are online user guides on the ParentPay website – with links from the HTPD website payments page. Cash is no longer going to be King at Holy Trinity! Once we have ironed out teething problems with lunch payments, we will extend the facility for all school payments, including trips and clubs. We will also then launch at Pewley Down. www.holytrinity.surrey.sch.uk/The-School/Parents/Payments-Arrangements.aspx
Closing date for primary applications: Wednesday 15 January 2014
If you have a child due to start school in September 2014 or a child in Year 2 transferring to junior school the deadline for applications is Wednesday 15 January 2014. Even though Pewley Down is federated with Holy Trinity it is still necessary to complete an application form for entry to Year 3. If you have not already done so, you will need to complete the Surrey County Council application form: www.surreycc.gov.uk/learning/schools/school-admissions . In addition, applicants to Reception should complete the Pewley Down supplementary form and applicants for Year 3 should complete the Holy Trinity supplementary form (available on the website or from the office) and return these to the relevant school office.
External Clubs Starting Dates
Elena’s Art Club begins Monday 6 January
Judo Club begins Tuesday 7 January
French Club begins Wednesday 8 January at the Juniors, but the Infants club starts on the 15th
Boogie Pumps begins Wednesday 8 January
Amazing Art Club begins Tuesday 14 January
Further information on the above clubs can be obtained from the office.
Traffic disruption
Please note that Surrey CC will be carrying out works in Cline Road on the 7th, 8th and 9th January. There could be considerable disruption so parents and staff are advised to avoid Cline Road if at all possible.

HTSC (PTA) News

Mad March Ball - Save the Date - Saturday 8 March 8pm-1am, Black Tie
Radisson Hotel, Guildford
• Music and Live band
• Auction and lots more
• Tickets will be available to purchase mid-January
If you are able to offer sponsorship, donate a prize for the auction or know of a local business that might be able to help support the ball please contact Ros Vickerman at jrvickerman@yahoo.co.uk
Lost:
A PE kit belonging to Louise Lawson-Foia (3N) has been lost. If you have picked this up by mistake, please bring it to the office.
2 Keller PE t-shirts, named, belonging to Amy Stovell in 4S, have been missing for 2 weeks now. Please check your bags and if you have them please bring them to the office. Thank you very much.
Found
A pair of glasses was found (child-yellow metal frame), please speak to the office.
Curchods’ Dream House Competition - Curchods were delighted to announce the winners of this year’s art competition. The response was amazing with many colourful and imaginative entries. Selecting the winners proved extremely difficult but those chosen were – Sasha Haliburton (1st prize), Ben Charles (2nd prize) and Caleb Butlin (3rd prize). Prizes are Waterstones’ gift vouchers for £50, £30 and £25 respectively. All works of art will be displayed in their shop window from today onwards so please go and take a look over the festive period. The entries will be kept for collection until the end of January. Well done to the winners and to everybody who took part.

20 December 2013

A very happy Christmas from all the staff at the school. This has been a really special time for us as all year groups have centred their thoughts on the miracle of God coming to Earth for us.

The infants celebrated this at our carols around the tree. Each class presented a different part of the story and dramatised it in their own special way. A good number of parents joined us and we enjoyed singing some traditional carols.

The juniors carol service was at Holy Trinity Church. We attempted to give evidence for the question posed by John Betjeman:

And it is true…
The maker of the stars and sea
Become a child on earth for me

The children in year three invited us all to be a part of Christmas ourselves when six of them sang:

Oh holy child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings bring
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel

I do hope this will a great time for you and your family. Thank you so much for all your encouragement and friendship this year. It has been amazing to feel the love during this testing time. Early next term we will be giving very good news about our end of key stage two results. Thank you also for all the cards and presents - it is so kind and appreciated greatly.

With best wishes, Richard

School re-opens for the Spring Term on Monday 6 January.

Thank you
A huge ‘thank you’ from all the staff for all the lovely Christmas cards and presents. Your kind wishes and generosity are very much appreciated.

Christmas Play collections
Thank you also for your generous donations following the Christmas play – we raised £450.21 which will be distributed between CHASE and Challengers.

Year 1
A reminder that Monday 6 January is ‘bring a book’ day and on Tuesday 7th children should come to school dressed as a traditional fairy tale character.

Year 2
If you are able to help, there are sign-up sheets outside Walnut Class for the Wild Place (Tuesdays starting 14th Jan) and Art Carousel (starting Mon 13th Jan and NO experience necessary!). Also, we would like any old black wool you no longer need please!

Closing date for primary applications: Wednesday 15 January 2014
If you have a child due to start school in September 2014 or a child in Year 2 transferring to junior school the deadline for applications is Wednesday 15 January 2014. Even though Pewley Down is federated with Holy Trinity it is still necessary to complete an application form for entry to Year 3. If you have not already done so, you will need to complete the Surrey County Council application form: http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/learning/schools/school-admissions. In addition, applicants to Reception should complete the Pewley Down supplementary form and applicants for Year 3 should complete the Holy Trinity supplementary form (available on the website or from the office) and return these to the relevant school office.
Found:
Grey ‘AllSaints Spitalfields’ scarf – left at the Year 2 night out on Friday 6 December. Please contact the office.

Premier Tennis Tots Spring term 2014: new venues, new times, new ‘Space Adventure’ theme
Next term kicks off in January in a variety of new venues in and around Guildford, on different days and times. Please visit our website, premiertennis.co.uk/tots, to find your nearest session or the best weekly time slot to suit you. You can also order any special tots tennis equipment in time for next term. We have an exciting new theme next term (‘Petey’s Space Adventure’) with lots of fun games including Moonwalking, Rocket Launch Relay and Space Invaders! We are adding various games and drills, introducing team tasks and gently increasing physical activity levels. We will look to encourage all “space cadets” in developing their physical and social skills which are beneficial in all sports, not just tennis, and in early school years.

13 December 2013

Dear parents

Yesterday we presented Bibles to all of the juniors and will do the same with year 2 next Wednesday. They were a gift from Bibles for Children – a charity which does just that. Now we have registered with them they will continue to give bibles to year 2 every year. It is a great gift for each child and we made an event of it.

You will know that we have a buddy system at HTPD where year 6 buddy year 3 and year 4 buddy year 5.Year 5 also buddy year 2. So for the Bible presentation children joined up with their buddy, wrote on each other’s presentation slips and then swapped books. They then looked at them together before everyone joined together in the Chapel.

In the Chapel we told a little about the Bible and explained how it had come to us. Then a variety of teachers explained why the Bible was important to them and read a favourite part or a story. This was followed by Robert Cotton, our Chair of Governors and Nick Williams a parent and Vicar Of Christ Church, Waterden Road sharing their favourite passages. This taught us that we all can be made whole through the gift of one truly good man, Jesus. Year 6 received a complete Bible in a modern inclusive translation and everyone else an excellent Bible story book.

These will be theirs to keep and from time to time teachers will use them in RE lessons. Just yesterday I watched a great year 6 lesson about temptation as seen in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. It was great for the children then to be able to turn up the Matthew passage on the temptations of Jesus to compare them with what happened to Edmund.

So it was a great occasion and lovely to walk into year 3 and see five or six children reading the Bible for their reading book. It’s great to receive special gifts at Christmas time and I hope this will be a gift to the children that they will remember for a long time.
With best wishes, Richard

Christmas Play
We really hope that you have enjoyed ‘Call the Midwife’ this week. We would like to say a really big ‘thank you’ to parents for your support, to the children who performed brilliantly and to the staff who put it all together.

Carols Round the Tree, Wednesday 18 December, 1.45pm
Please come and join us for a carol sing-along next Wednesday.

“Care of Henry”, Thursday 19 December
Thank you to FOPS for funding The Pied Piper Theatre Company’s performance of ‘Care of Henry’ which the children will be watching next Thursday afternoon.

End of term
School closes next Friday 20 December at 1.30pm and re-opens on Monday 6 January.

Closing date for primary applications: Wednesday 15 January 2014
If you have a child due to start school in September 2014 or a child in Year 2 transferring to junior school the deadline for applications is Wednesday 15 January 2014. Even though Pewley Down is federated with Holy Trinity it is still necessary to complete an application form for entry to Year 3. If you have not already done so, you will need to complete the Surrey County Council application form: www.surreycc.gov.uk/learning/schools/school-admissions. In addition, applicants to Reception should complete the Pewley Down supplementary form and applicants for Year 3 should complete the Holy Trinity supplementary form (available on the website or from the office) and return these to the relevant school office.

Milk Bottle tops
Thank you all for donating the milk bottle tops for the ‘One Big Step for Daniel’ campaign. The final day for donating bottle tops is Thursday 19 December.

One way system
A reminder that we do try and operate an unofficial one-way system down Semaphore Road (from Pewley Hill to Semaphore Road) to help ease congestion in the morning and afternoon.

Lost
Milli Westlake has lost her named Nightingale fleece.

FOPS NEWS

Christmas Fair - THANK YOU!!!
Thank you for supporting the Christmas Fair on Sunday. We hope you and your children enjoyed it. We are still doing the final totting up but we estimate we have raised about £3,000 which is a fantastic effort.

The fair is a huge undertaking which wouldn't happen without all the parent volunteers. Thank you to those who helped set up and clear away at the weekend and helped on stalls during the Fair. Thanks also to the Class Reps who do a huge amount behind the scenes to have stalls prepared and manned. Particular thanks go to the Grotto Team: our santas, Nick Mercer and Ian Durrant; the wonderful elves from the junior school (Tilly Mercer, Eloise May, Olive Wickham, Phoebe Ship and Rosie Priest-Jones); and Cherrie Gluyas and Ros Vickerman for creating the truly amazing grotto in Mr Terry's cupboard! Thanks also to Ati Dalgaard and Debra Banks for sourcing the huge selection of items for the raffle and tree of promises.

Please check if you were a winner on the Tree of Promises and collect your items from the School Office before the end of term. (Andy Fowler: Jo Clark’s voucher; Anna Williams: Glutton & Glee voucher; Idit Lewis: Essensuals Hair voucher; Chris Young: Haircut at Maverick; Lorraine Parnell: Haircut at Mavericks and Touchline Fitness classes; Laura Booty: Red Hot Yoga membership.) Cheques payable to FOPS.
There are a few items still available if you would like to bid, please email emilybourke@msn.com :
Lulamoon 50% off a children’s birthday party – estimated value £75
2 game family voucher for Laserhub – estimated value £35
SCL (football) holiday course credit (x2) – estimated value £23

MAD MARCH BALL - SAVE THE DATE
Saturday 8th March, Radisson Hotel, Guildford, 8pm-1am, Black Tie
Music and Live band - Auction and lots more - Tickets available to purchase mid-January.
If you are able to offer sponsorship, donate a prize for the auction or know of a local business that might be able to help support the ball please contact Ros Vickerman at jrvickerman@yahoo.co.uk

Easyfundraising: Don't forget to use easyfundraising.org.uk for that last minute on line Christmas shopping and select Friends of Pewley Down Infant School as your good cause.

Call the Midwife DVD: If you have ordered a copy of the fantastic school play, "Call the Midwife", on DVD it will be available for collection from school on Friday 20 December. Please collect your copy from your class rep.

EXCALIBER! Come to the Electric Theatre next weekend to see a brilliant new play based on the legends of King Arthur. The show runs from Thursday 19th to Sunday 22nd December and the cast includes our own year 5 pupils Finnan and Tom as well as an amazing dragon! To see them in the show you need to watch Blue team - Thurs/Sat evenings or Fri/Sun matinees. Tickets from only £7! Please come and support your school mates - it will be a great show!

Christmas Fun For All The Family! Stuck for things for the children to do during the holidays? ….Well help is here! Guildford Borough Council has put together lots of helpful information to keep everyone entertained during the Christmas holidays; playschemes, sports academies, arts & crafts, drama clubs, family days out and much more! Just visit our website: www.guildford.gov.uk/holidayactivities

Anybody requiring made to measure curtains, blinds, cushions and other soft furnishings and/or interior design guidance, please contact Jessica Callanan at jessicacallanan09@gmail.com or on 01483 532658 / 07780 683600 to arrange a consultation. Availability from mid-January. Jessica has quite a few HTPD parent customers already who would be happy to provide a good reference.

13 December 2013

Dear Parents,

Yesterday we presented Bibles to all of the juniors and will do the same with year 2 next Wednesday. They were a gift from Bibles for Children – a charity which does just that. Now we have registered with them they will continue to give bibles to year 2 every year. It is a great gift for each child and we made an event of it.

You will know that we have a buddy system at HTPD where year 6 buddy year 3 and year 4 buddy year 5.Year 5 also buddy year 2. So for the Bible presentation children joined up with their buddy, wrote on each other’s presentation slips and then swapped books. They then looked at them together before everyone joined together in the Chapel.

In the Chapel we told a little about the Bible and explained how it had come to us. Then a variety of teachers explained why the Bible was important to them and read a favourite part or a story. This was followed by Robert Cotton, our Chair of Governors and Nick Williams a parent and Vicar Of Christ Church, Waterden Road sharing their favourite passages. This taught us that we all can be made whole through the gift of one truly good man, Jesus. Year 6 received a complete Bible in a modern inclusive translation and everyone else an excellent Bible story book.

These will be theirs to keep and from time to time teachers will use them in RE lessons. Just yesterday I watched a great year 6 lesson about temptation as seen in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. It was great for the children then to be able to turn up the Matthew passage on the temptations of Jesus to compare them with what happened to Edmund.

So it was a great occasion and lovely to walk into year 3 and see five or six children reading the Bible for their reading book. It’s great to receive special gifts at Christmas time and I hope this will be a gift to the children that they will remember for a long time.

With best wishes, Richard

Events for next week
Monday 16 December - Years 3 & 4 Christmas Parties (during school) and Years 5 & 6 Disco 6-7.30pm
Tuesday 17 December - School choir visit Mount Alvernia Hospital at 1.30pm
Thursday 19 December
- End of Term Service at Holy Trinity Church at 1.45pm
- Year 3 sing Carols around the Christmas Tree 5.00-6.00pm
- Parent Helpers Thank You 12.30pm
Friday 20 December - School closes for the holidays at 1.45pm
There are no library clubs next week.

Christmas Parents Thank You
To all our parent helpers, you are warmly invited to Mince Pies and Mulled Wine next Thursday 19 December at 12.30pm to celebrate the end of another successful term, please let your child’s class teacher know if you can come and thank you once again for all your support.

Future dates for your diary
School re-opens on Monday 6 January at 8.40am
Elena’s Art Club begins Monday 6 January
Judo Club begins Tuesday 7 January
French Club begins Wednesday 8 January
Boogie Pumps begins Wednesday 8 January
Amazing Art Club begins Tuesday 14 January
Further information on the above clubs can be obtained from the office.

School Play Photographs
There are still some photographs available of all house performances, if you do not have a chance to have a look at them, please come to see Sheila before Tuesday 17 December. Commission received from sales will go to the school fund. Thank you.

Lost
Missing since before half term – navy blue Keller Sweatshirt and navy blue HT Cagoule – both clearly named – Archie Jones.

Closing date for primary applications: Wednesday 15 January 2014
If you have a child due to start school in September 2014 or a child in Year 2 transferring to junior school the deadline for applications is Wednesday 15 January 2014. Even though Pewley Down is federated with Holy Trinity it is still necessary to complete an application form for entry to Year 3. If you have not already done so, you will need to complete the Surrey County Council application form: www.surreycc.gov.uk/learning/schools/school-admissions . In addition, applicants to Reception should complete the Pewley Down supplementary form and applicants for Year 3 should complete the Holy Trinity supplementary form (available on the website or from the office) and return these to the relevant school office.

HTSC (PTA) News

Mad March Ball – Save the Date - Saturday 8 March 8pm-1am, Black Tie
Radisson Hotel, Guildford
• Music and Live band
• Auction and lots more
• Tickets will be available to purchase mid January
If you are able to offer sponsorship, donate a prize for the auction or know of a local business that might be able to help support the ball please contact Ros Vickerman at jrvickerman@yahoo.co.uk

Years 5 & 6 Disco - Monday 16 December
We need a couple of helpers serve drinks and crisps during the disco. If you are able to help please contact Karen Butler at atfc1992@ntlworld.com

Dates for the Diary
Year 4 Christmas Drinks - Thursday 19 December 8pm at MKB
Mad March Ball - 8 March 2014

Art class with Elena Andreeva. We have a place in our Monday art club. The 1.5hr sessions run on Mondays 3.30-5pm. We learn to draw and paint from life and imagination. If you wish your child to attend, please contact Elena on 01483 560385.

Amazing Art Club - Next term's theme is 'Circus' - please see today’s Parentmail for more details. If you would like to book a space (limited to 12), please contact Sophie on 07855 622303/ 01483 577916 or email sophieartemispitt@gmail.com.

Family Christmas Concert at G Live, Sunday, 15th December at 3.00 p.m presented by Guildford Choral Society and featuring an ex-pupil of ours, Anna Gillingham. as Guest Soloist. Guildford Choral Society (Guildford's oldest amateur choral society and one of the oldest in the country, too) will be joined by the children of St Catherine's, Bramley, Preparatory School Choir and the Brass and Percussion of Southern Pro Musica, under the baton of Jonathan Willcocks. There will be plenty of audience participation, too! Tickets are half price for children, students, the disabled and ES40.

EXCALIBER! Come to the Electric theatre next weekend to see a brilliant new play based on the legends of King Arthur. The show runs from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 December and the cast includes our own Year 5 pupils Finnan and Tom, as well as an amazing dragon! To see them in the show you need to watch Blue team - Thurs/Sat evenings or Fri/Sun matinees. Tickets from only £7! Please come and support your school mates - it will be a great show!

06 December 2013

Dear Parents,

Today is a sad day for all of us at Holy Trinity Pewley Down. Nelson Mandela is one of our HTPD Heroes and of course a name for one of our school houses. At the juniors we have already talked through his life with the school at our big assembly this morning. I will be talking about him with the infants on Monday. We will then have a full assembly celebrating his life next week. This is a key moment in all our lives and the children will remember the death of Nelson Mandela at Christmas time throughout their lives.

Why is he so important to us as a school? The two main reasons are forgiveness and goodness. He showed both these attributes so clearly in his life and that is why I personally see him as a role model and offer that to our children. In a world which is so often marked with a blame culture, it is wonderful to see that transformed into the beauty of forgiveness. In a world which often, even at government level, seeks to belittle and insult those of different opinions, his goodness raises us to a different plane of interaction with others. I work hard to promote these virtues in the school, sometimes against an attitude to fight back which is prevalent in our national culture.

So his life is relevant to all of us and we will continue to remember him and all he has taught us.

I do hope you have enjoyed the Christmas play at HT and are geared up to see the infant’s play next week. It is such a special time for all the children. These next two weeks are going to be a great time of learning along with all the fun of a proper primary school Christmas.

I hope you all enjoy your preparations.
With best wishes, Richard

Christmas Decoration Competition
We had some fantastic entries in the FOPS baby-gro competition. They will all be on display in the hall, so see if you can spot yours. Very well done to the winners:
Year R: Alexi (Willow), Honey (Hazel)
Year 1: Daisy (Beech), Ivy (Oak)
Year 2: Aidan (Chestnut), Maddie P (Walnut).
Overall winner: Claudia (Willow).

Carols Round the Tree, 18 December, 1.45pm
Don’t forget to come and join us for a carol sing-along on the last Wednesday of term.

Christmas post
The Christmas post boxes have arrived – one at the bottom of the stairs and one in the library. Please include the child’s name, surname and class on the envelope to help the Year 2 Pewley postmen. Last delivery will be 20 December.

Christmas Play tickets
There are still tickets available for the Wednesday 1.30pm performance (and a few for Wednesday at 9.30am and Thursday at 9.30am) if you would like one for a grandparent. Please contact the school office.

Christmas Play collection
There will be a collection at the end of each performance in support of two local charities: CHASE (the children’s hospice) and Challengers (who provide vital play and leisure facilities for local disabled children and young people).

Many thanks also for your recent donations to the DEC Philippines Typhoon Appeal (£141.08) and the Poppy Appeal (£43.22).

Surrey Advertiser
Look out for us in the Surrey Advertiser who will be photographing a group of children on Tuesday as part of their nativity series.

FOPS NEWS

Christmas Fair – This Sunday
We look forward to seeing you at the Christmas Fair on Sunday: lots of festive fun and treats, including Santa’s Grotto, Christmas Crafts, hot food, homemade mince pies, mulled wine and games. Don’t forget to visit the Tree of Promises and bid for some of the great items on offer. We also have some fantastic external stalls, such as Bill’s, Little Bean and fabulous handicraft stalls, so bring your cheque book.

Please return all raffle tickets and money before the draw at 1.45 pm on Sunday.

We will be setting up at the following times:
Friday 6 December: 7.00 pm – 9pm
Saturday 7 December: 9.00 am – 12.00pm
Please come and help if you can.

There will be no home produce stall at the Fair, so you can turn off the oven!

‘Call the Midwife’ DVD
If you would like to order a copy of the DVD of the school Christmas play, “Call the Midwife”, please do so by Monday 9 December. The DVD will be available for collection on the last day of term.

06 December 2013

Dear Parents,

Today is a sad day for all of us at Holy Trinity Pewley Down. Nelson Mandela is one of our HTPD Heroes and of course a name for one of our school houses. At the juniors we have already talked through his life with the school at our big assembly this morning. I will be talking about him with the infants on Monday. We will then have a full assembly celebrating his life next week. This is a key moment in all our lives and the children will remember the death of Nelson Mandela at Christmas time throughout their lives.

Why is he so important to us as a school? The two main reasons are forgiveness and goodness. He showed both these attributes so clearly in his life and that is why I personally see him as a role model and offer that to our children. In a world which is so often marked with a blame culture, it is wonderful to see that transformed into the beauty of forgiveness. In a world which often, even at government level, seeks to belittle and insult those of different opinions, his goodness raises us to a different plane of interaction with others. I work hard to promote these virtues in the school, sometimes against an attitude to fight back which is prevalent in our national culture.

So his life is relevant to all of us and we will continue to remember him and all he has taught us.

I do hope you have enjoyed the Christmas play at HT and are geared up to see the infant’s play next week. It is such a special time for all the children. These next two weeks are going to be a great time of learning along with all the fun of a proper primary school Christmas.

Future dates for your diary
Monday 16 December - Years 3 & 4 Christmas Parties and Years 5 & 6 Disco
Thursday 19 December - End of Term Service at Holy Trinity Church at 1.45pm
Friday 20 December - School closes for the holidays at 1.45pm

HTPD Prayer Group meets 9-9.30am on Monday 9 December at Emma Laporte’s house. Contact emmalaporte@hotmail.com for details. All Welcome!

Holy Trinity School Community (HTSC) PTA News

Christmas Fair

Thank you to everyone who helped and donated we had a great evening and raised lots of money for the school.

Dates for the Diary

Cake Sale next Friday 13 December – Year 3&4, please contact Caroline Swift if you are able to help.

Christmas Shopping with Easyfundraising You can raise money for the school when you shop online (and not just at Christmas!) For full details and to sign up visit www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/htscguildford Easy fundraising is an entirely free service that allows people to shop directly at their favourite store via the links on the easyfundraising.org.uk website and earn a cash back donation to their school cause once a purchase is made. Donated earnings can be anywhere up to 15%, depending on the retailer and the product that was purchased. There are thousands of stores that are already participating with leading high street brands such as Amazon, WH Smith, M&S etc., making it one of the most effortless fundraising ideas for schools.

Art class with Elena Andreeva. We have a place in our Monday art club. The 1.5hr sessions run on Mondays 3.30-5pm. We learn to draw and paint from life and imagination. If you wish your child to attend, please contact Elena on 01483 560385.

Amazing Art Club - Next term's theme is 'Circus' - please see today’s Parentmail for more details. If you would like to book a space (limited to 12), please contact Sophie on 07855 622303/ 01483 577916 or email sophieartemispitt@gmail.com.

Get a free taste of Yoga and sample some Swedish St Lucia treats - Come along for a free yoga class on Friday 13 December 10.00-11.15 at Guildford United Reformed Church and experience a bit of St Lucia - the Swedish festival of light celebrated on 13 December each year. If you can't make the St Lucia class - you can still come along for a free class (and treats) on Saturday 14 December 08.00-09.15 or Monday 16 December 19.45-21.15 at Fitzsimmons Place Nursery's Hall. All welcome including beginners. For full details see: www.sunnysideyoga.co.uk or contact Gunilla Hartman on 07732 550699.

Mannativity – The Baby with no Bed – St Catherine’s School Theatre, Bramley. December 21st 11.30am and 4.30pm. Tickets £3.50 available from mannaacademy.moonfruit.com Please support this event all proceeds to HMSA and POTS UK Charities.

Anybody requiring made to measure curtains, blinds, cushions and other soft furnishings and/or interior design guidance, please contact Jessica Callanan at jessicacallanan09@gmail.com or on 01483 532658 / 07780 683600 to arrange a consultation. Availability from mid-January. Jessica has quite a few HTPD parent customers already who would be happy to provide a good reference.